Forum Sahabat Silat

English Version => Pencak Silat General Forum => Topic started by: puggiotto on 29/07/2007 19:02

Title: The Tigers of Pencak Silat - Harimau Minangkabau
Post by: puggiotto on 29/07/2007 19:02
As a martial arts enthusiast, you are undoubtedly familiar with the multitude of martial art forms and schools in Indonesia.
Amongst the numerous styles of Pencak Silat, perhaps the most fascination, effective and extremely dangerous style is the Harimau Minang style. This form of fighting is respected throughout Indonesia. A product of Minangkabau endeavour from the Painan area of Sumatra, the style resembles the antics of a tiger. Its technical fundamentals can be found to a greater or lesser degree in every other major orthodox Pencak Silat style but an important reason for differences between styles arises from the fact that uneven and slippery surfaces are most common in Sumatra where this style originates. Under these conditions, the Harimau Minang fighter considers an upright posture detrimental to effective fighting since it offers him only two bases of support, ie his legs.

He prefers to hug the ground, sometimes actually getting down on it, thus making effective use of five support - his two legs, his two hands and either his back, side or belly.

To assume that while in this recumbent posture the Harimau fighters is incapable of moving quickly and effectively would be to make a gross and dangerous mistake. From the low posture he can deliver very powerful kicks as well as make use of other cunnign tactics; further, he can spring quickly and forcefully up at the enemy with terrifying ferocity.

The Harimau Minang Silat exponent demostrates unusual ability with leg manouvres but is not a loss when the hands and arms must be brought into use. The combatants crouch close the ground and inch forward, with bodies tense and alert, until the come within effective range when they launch devastating attacks from the ground. An exponent of Harimau Minang Silat requires great strength and flexibility in the hips and legs, a feaure with which Minangkabau natives are liberally endowed.

Harimau Minang Silat training is one of the most difficult forms of martial arts training one can undergo but after long years of training and patience, the apprendice becomes not only a good fighter, but very humble.

And this is the Philosophy of our School.

In fact to the real exponent of this Art it is a way of life - it is sacred (Suchi). It is used during the life and death struggle to defend the family or one's credibility or to protect the weak and destroy something which harms the harmony of the general community.

Harimau Silat is not for "competisi" but is only for to "Kill". This style is hypnotic, with gracious stalking antics which forms the prelude to the eventual kill. The mentality is cunning, making sure that no move is wasted and zap the inevitable takes place, "The Kill".



The Style is cloted in mystic values - at a higher level it is interwined with devout spiritual beliefs and practices.

You must be very close to Nature to think, to live and to be Harimau, because Harimau is only a "state of mind".

davide
Title: Re: The Tigers of Pencak Silat - Harimau Minangkabau
Post by: Rebo Paing on 30/07/2007 08:57
Matur sembah nuwun Davide for sharing this with us. I assume this is the style of silat that you practice?
I wish you every success  [top].

Wassalam,
Krisno
Title: Re: The Tigers of Pencak Silat - Harimau Minangkabau
Post by: puggiotto on 30/07/2007 18:32
Hallo Krisno,

Thank you very much for your nice words.

The system of silat we practice in the United Kingdom is the Harimau system of the Hanafi family. Within our system can be found not only the “Harimau” (tiger system) of silat, but also influences from other major styles such as “Setia Hati Teratia” and “Silek”.

The direction and development of any style is directly influenced by the leader.
Our style is very combative, for silat was conceived from mans need to survive.
The needs of the jungle fighter were different than the needs of the practitioner in today’s  modern “urban jungle”. So, evolvement takes place on the base of tradition within our system, the style has been, and is tested in life’s hard arena, for that is the way of my teacher.

I wish you all the best,

davide
Title: Re: The Tigers of Pencak Silat - Harimau Minangkabau
Post by: Ranggalana on 01/08/2007 05:57
...The system of silat we practice in the United Kingdom is the Harimau system of the Hanafi family. Within our system can be found not only the “Harimau” (tiger system) of silat, but also influences from other major styles such as “Setia Hati Teratia” and “Silek”.

The direction and development of any style is directly influenced by the leader.
Our style is very combative, for silat was conceived from mans need to survive.
The needs of the jungle fighter were different than the needs of the practitioner in today’s  modern “urban jungle”. So, evolvement takes place on the base of tradition within our system, the style has been, and is tested in life’s hard arena, for that is the way of my teacher. ....

I have met several Harimau Hanafi-De Bourdes students and ALL were very nice and humble. Many are VERY GOOD at what they do and even the beginners were very dedicated. They seem to be all over the world too, one guy I met taught in Sydney, Oztralia. He was fast.

Salam hangat,
Bram
Title: Re: The Tigers of Pencak Silat - Harimau Minangkabau
Post by: tigerofsumatra on 02/08/2007 03:45
Davide,
we are obviously brothers in arms, enjoy your representation of Minangkabau from UK, and your various comments in this forum. Please give Guru Randolph, and Guru Paul my regard. As Maha Guru would say, "we'll be talking".
Tim Lee
DFCS-Dls TX
Title: Re: The Tigers of Pencak Silat - Harimau Minangkabau
Post by: parewa on 02/08/2007 12:07
Dear Sahabat Silat,

Please visit http://sahabatsilat.org/id/2007/08/01/silek-kumango-locks-are-the-distinctive-feature-of-gerak-silek-kumango/

We have posted an interesting article about Silek Kumango, a silat from Minangkabau, West Sumatera. Thanks to Pak Krisno who give us a nice translation... [top]

If you want to know the movements of Silek Kumango, please check at http://aopsa.com/portals/38/video/SILAT.wmv (thanks Nick for your video compilation.... [top] ^:)^)

Salam.
Title: Re: The Tigers of Pencak Silat - Harimau Minangkabau
Post by: SilatJunkie on 02/08/2007 19:47
Selamat;

Thank you for the article! I have to say that I very much like what I've seen of Kumango from Nick's video.

Hormat saya,
Sean